PERSONALITIES from the world of football and the media arrived to pay their respects at the funeral of legendary sports writer Bob Cass on Monday.
Former England manager Steve McClaren, pundit Chris Kamara and ex-Sunderland striker Niall Quinn were among those at the funeral of the former Northern Echo, Mail on Sunday and Sun journalist in Durham.
Bob Cass' coffin is carried in to the church. Picture: North News
The sports writer, known for his fantastic contacts, vibrant stories and colourful anecdotes, died surrounded by his family on November 24 following a long battle with cancer.
The funeral, which was also attended by close friend and former Sunderland and Manchester City manager Peter Reid, was more a celebration of Mr Cass' life than a sombre affair, with many guests smiling for the press.
His coffin arrived at St Joseph's Church in Mill Lane in a silver Jaguar and was carried by members of his family.
Readings were given by Mr Cass' sister Margaret, his brother Billy and his nieces and nephews, while the hymns Abide with Me and Make me a Channel of Your Peace were sung by the congregation.
Mr Cass, a former Darlington Grammar schoolboy began his career at The Northern Echo before moving to The Sun and eventually The Mail on Sunday.
He led The Mail on Sunday's coverage of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and was one of the first reporters to see the bodies laid out following the tragic FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The former Football Writers' Association chairman was famous for his close working relationships with football managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp.
Former England captain Gary Lineker, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham were among those who paid tribute to Mr Cass following his death.
A tribute to was placed in the Newcastle United programme for their game on Saturday against Birmingham City, and Darlington FC held a minute's silence for the revered journalist before their match against Marine on Sunday.
Mr Cass' wife Janet and children, Alison, Jennifer and Simon, thanked district nurses as well as carers from MacMillan, Marie Curie and the palliative team that cared for him during the final months of his life.
They also said a special thank you to Daft as a Brush, an organisation that transports cancer patients to hospital for treatment free of charge.
Instead of floral tributes the family asked mourners to make donations to Macmillan, Marie Curie and Daft as a Brush.
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